I am writing to request your urgent action in bringing home Sarah Attia, a Canadian citizen, her husband Khaled Al-Qazzaz, Canadian Permanent Resident, and their four Canadian children. Today they are being prevented from leaving Egypt, and considering the increasing security concerns and the complex political climate, we are very concerned about their safety.

Khaled Al-Qazzaz was illegally detained by the Egyptian military in 2013 and was held without charge in solitary confinement for 480 days. He was then sent to hospital due to injuries he sustained while in prison, and was finally released after two months in hospital in December 2014. He was not charged with any criminal offences and no reason was provided for his lengthy incarceration.

Sarah and their four children travelled to Egypt in March 2015 to reunite with Khaled after his release from a lengthy illegal imprisonment by the Egyptian government. This trip was meant to take no longer than two weeks so the family could accompany Khaled home to Canada, seek the urgent medical attention he needs to repair damage to his spine as a result of solitary confinement, and settle back into their lives in Canada. Khaled has received confirmations from legal authorities in Egypt that he is cleared from all accusations, not under investigation, and is not banned from travel.

The Al-Qazzaz children thought they would miss school for two weeks, but four months later, the family is still stuck in Egypt. The school year ended without the kids saying goodbye to their friends and their summer is being spent in fear and uncertainty. More than anything, the children wish to return home to Canada in time for the new school year.

The climate in Egypt has become extremely turbulent and there are increasing security risks. Sarah and her family must exit as soon as possible before it is too late.

Sarah, her husband, and their children, need to return home to Canada as soon as possible. Canada must advocate for their safe and immediate return home. Please urge Prime Minister Harper to intervene and ask the Egyptian President to allow Sarah and her family a safe passage back home to Canada. As a final resort, please raise the option of offering Khaled Al-Qazzaz a Canadian citizenship on humanitarian grounds, as allowed by the discretionary compassionate provision in the Citizenship Act, which can facilitate his departure from Egypt and allow his children to resume their life in Canada and return home in time for school.